Board game kit of components, and methods of constructing and utilizing same

ABSTRACT

A board game employs a combination of rules and apparatus 1) to motivate each player to truthfully answer the questions which asks her/his opinions, and 2) to promote cooperative play at the right time to make the game not only fun, but also meaningful.

The present application claims priority from Chinese Patent Application 2007/10077190.7 filed Sep. 18, 2007.

The present invention relates generally to board games. In particular, the present invention relates to a board game that endeavors to enhance the players' understanding of each other by engaging them in competitive play.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Though numerous board games are available in today's market, those which attempt to enhance players' understanding of each other in a competitive environment are faced with problems that render such games incomplete in their ability to function effectively.

Games of this type commonly have a question and answer component which asks for each player's opinions on various subjects. These opinions are recorded. Then, during the course of the game, these opinions are guessed upon, revealed, and manipulated so as to make the game fun.

However, past inventions of these types of games contain problems which are twofold. First, because there are no definite right or wrong answers to questions which ask for opinions, it is difficult to ascertain whether or not players are telling the truth when they answer the questions. Second, when the time comes which calls for a player to guess at another player's previously-given opinion, the latter player is not properly rewarded if the former player is able to guess it correctly. In such games, rewards are only given to the former player (who guessed correctly), but not to the latter player (who gave her/his true opinion in the first place). Over time, the latter player will cease to give her/his true opinion because he has no part in sharing the reward if it is correctly guessed by another player. When all the players eventually behave this way, the spirit of the game breaks down and playing it will cease to be fun.

In order to resolve the aforementioned problems, the present invention employs a combination of rules and apparatus 1) to motivate each player to truthfully answer the questions which asks her/his opinions, and 2) to promote cooperative play at the right time so as to make the game not only fun, but also meaningful.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a board game kit of components for playing a game by a plurality of players, said kit comprising:

-   -   (1) a game playing surface marked with a plurality of indicia,         said indicia comprising         -   (A) a plurality of spaces of varying kinds,         -   (B) said spaces adapted to receive instructions for one or             more of said players, and         -   (C) said spaces defining a track for movement along said             playing surface;     -   (2) a plurality of markers adapted for positioning on said         spaces responsive to stimuli, one said marker being assigned to         each of said players, each of said player's marker being adapted         to be attached to or detached from the marker of another player;     -   (3) a story media setting forth a story and a series of related         questions;     -   (4) means to record players' responses to said questions     -   (5) means to score the results of play for said players'         markers, said scoring means comprising:         -   (A) a first series of scores for each player defined by said             player's marker's attachment to or detachment from another             player's marker,         -   (B) a second series of scores for each player defined by             movement of said player along said playing surface, and         -   (C) ascertaining the results of play for each said player by             multiplying said player's first series of scores by said             player's second series of scores; and     -   (6) a plurality of markers adapted for occupying spaces on the         game playing surface, requiring players to pay the second series         of scores when they land on said spaces.         The present invention also provides a board game for playing a         game by a plurality of players, comprising:     -   (1) a game playing surface marked with a plurality of indicia,         said indicia comprising         -   (A) a plurality of spaces of varying kinds,         -   (B) said spaces adapted to receive instructions for one or             more of said players, and         -   (C) said spaces defining a track for movement along said             playing surface;     -   (2) a plurality of markers adapted for positioning on said         spaces responsive to stimuli, one said marker being assigned to         each of said players, each of said player's marker being adapted         to be attached to or detached from the marker of another player;     -   (3) a story media setting forth a story and a series of related         questions;     -   (4) means to record players' responses to said questions     -   (5) means to score the results of play for said players'         markers, said scoring means comprising:         -   (A) a first series of scores for each player defined by said             player's marker's attachment to or detachment from another             player's marker,         -   (B) a second series of scores for each player defined by             movement of said player along said playing surface, and         -   (C) ascertaining the results of play for each said player by             multiplying said player's first series of scores by said             player's second series of scores; and     -   (6) a plurality of markers adapted for occupying spaces on the         game playing surface, requiring players to pay the second series         of scores when they land on said spaces.         The present invention further provides a method for playing a         question and answer game by at least three players, said method         comprising the steps of     -   (1) selecting a story and presenting said story to the players         of the game;     -   (2) having each player separately and secretly answer questions         contained in the story according to said player's own opinions         about said story;     -   (3) offering a first player the opportunity to attempt to guess         a second player's answer to a question in the story;     -   (4) attaching a player's marker to another player's marker, as         partners, when the former correctly guesses the latter's answer         to a question in the story;     -   (5) maintaining said partnership between said attached partnered         players until and unless a third player correctly guesses an         answer to a question while one's partner guesses incorrectly;     -   (6) revealing the answers to said questions;     -   (7) scoring players by multiplying, for each player, two         component of scores together to arrive at a total score; and     -   (8) tallying said total score to determine the highest score.

It is an object of the invention to provide a board game which enhances the players' understanding of each other by engaging them in competitive play.

Other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent to those persons skilled in this particular area of technology and to other persons after reading the specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows one playing piece representing a single player.

FIG. 2 shows two attached playing pieces representing a pair of partnered players.

FIG. 3 shows a Friendo Chip.

FIG. 4 shows Point scripts in denominations of 1, 2, 4 and 8 Points.

FIG. 5 shows Flags used in the game.

FIG. 6 shows the game board.

FIG. 7 shows dice used in the game.

FIG. 8 shows a sample Story that may be used in the game.

FIG. 9 shows an Answer Card.

FIG. 10 shows Guess Cards.

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of a player's turn.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The special apparatus unique to this game includes:

-   -   (1) a Story which contains several questions that ask for         opinions, and for each question, multiple choices of answers         (FIG. 8 is an example of a Story presented in a Story card) and     -   (2) playing pieces FIG. 1 of different colors for representing         different individual players on the game board; these playing         pieces can be attached to and detached from each other in a         side-by-side fashion, and as such, a player whose playing piece         is standing alone is considered single FIG. 1, and a player         whose playing piece is attached to another player's is         considered partnered FIG. 2.

The special rules unique to this game govern that:

-   -   (1) for each player, his Total Score is made up of two         components multiplied together (Total Score=Friendo         Chips×Points)     -   (2) a player who is single (i.e. whose playing piece is not         attached to another player's playing piece) cannot possess any         Friendo Chips     -   (3) a player who is single can only become partnered if he can         correctly guess another player's answer to a question in the         Story, or vice versa, if another player can correctly guess his         answer to a question in the Story.

In any competitive game, each player takes actions which maximize her/his chances to win. In this game, the win-seeking player must strive to maximize her/his Total Score. To do that, she/he must try to maximize the number of Friendo Chips FIG. 3 and the number of Points FIG. 4 held so that the two numbers multiply to result in as big a number as possible—the Total Score.

However, one of the special rules in this game governs that a player who is single cannot possess any Friendo Chips. This effectively renders all singles' Total Scores to be zero because any number of Points multiplied by zero Friendo Chips equals zero. Therefore, all singles, which is what every player is at the start of the game, must shed her/his single status to become partnered with another player; that is, have her/his playing piece attached side-by-side with another player's playing piece. As soon as a player gets partnered, she/he will get her/his initial Friendo Chip which, as a multiplier for her/his Points, will result in a positive Total Score in accordance with the equation Total Score=Friendo Chips×Points.

According to the other of the special rules unique to this game, to go from being single to being partnered, a player must correctly guess another player's answer, or vice versa, have her/his own answer be correctly guessed by other players. Herein lays the mechanism which motivates each player to truthfully answer the questions in the Story. Because her/his Total Score depends on it, falsely or randomly answering the questions which ask her/his opinions in the Story will actually work against her/his chances to win the game. If she/he does not tell the truth when answering the questions in the Story, there will be no bearing for other players to guess at her/his answers, and this will cause them to refrain from partnering with this player. As such, there is a greater chance that ther/his player will remain single, unable to obtain the needed Friendo Chip to act as the multiplier for her/his Points.

When two players are initially partnered-up, they each get a Friendo Chip (See Move 1 in the sample game below.). Furthermore, the two of them can substantially increase their Total Scores by correctly guessing each other's answers every time they come up for play. Both players in the partnership are rewarded with an extra Friendo Chip for each instance. (See Move 2 in the sample game below.) Herein is the mechanism of the game that encourages cooperative play. That is, both players in a partnership are rewarded when one is able to correctly guess the other's answers about her/his opinions.

Cooperative play among partners is further reinforced by penalty. (See Move 6 in the sample game below.) That is, when one player is unable to correctly guess her/his partner's answer while another player can, the pair of partnered players in question each loses two Friendo Chips. If deducting these two Friendo Chips leaves them with zero, then the two partnered players must split-up into singles again, detaching their playing pieces from each other. Following the demise of their partnership, these two players must find a partner again in the same way as described above. These are the major elements of this new invention which make this game unique, fun, and meaningful.

In addition to the special apparatus mentioned hereinabove, other apparatus employed in the game include

-   -   (1) a game board with a continuous track, and along the track,         numerous spaces marked 8, Q, and Friendo FIG. 6;     -   (2) a deck of Guess Cards for a player to pick when she/he lands         on Q on the game board FIG. 10;     -   (3) a good supply of Answer Cards for each player to write         her/his answers for questions in the Story FIG. 9. Each Answer         Card should have spaces for a player to write her/his name, the         question number, and her/his answer for that question;     -   (4) a good supply of Flags that correspond in color to the         different playing pieces held by each player FIG. 5;     -   (5) scripts for keeping track of the number of Points FIG. 4,         and separately, tokens for keeping track of the number of         Friendo Chips FIG. 3, that each player has accumulated; and     -   (6) two dice FIG. 7.

The following is a description of a sample game played by four players, named A, B, C, D, respectively. One of the four players must act as the Bank. Her/his duty is to tend to all the undistributed Points, Friendo Chips, and Flags—collecting them from and distributing them to the players according to the rules of the game. She/He must keep her/his own inventory separate from those of the Bank.

Before the game begins, all players must read the Story and answer the questions contained therein. In the sample game, the Story FIG. 8 is:

You've just won US $10 million from the casino. Presently, you've decided to leave the casino.

-   Question 1: You are very hungry now. Which of the following     restaurants would you go to?     -   A. French     -   B. Chinese     -   C. American     -   D. Japanese -   Question 2: Before the food arrives, you decide to phone someone to     share the good news. Who would you call?     -   A. A member of your family     -   B. A friend -   Question 3: What would be your next big purchase?     -   A. A car     -   B. A house     -   C. A trip     -   D. Something else

Notice that each question asks the reader as if she/he is the character described in the Story who won the US $10 million. Naturally, each player will have her/his own answer to give for each question.

Using one Answer Card for each question, each player must write down each answer for each question onto separate Answer Cards. They must all do this secretly, taking care not to let other players see whatever they have written down on their Answer Cards. In this case, with four players and three questions in the Story, twelve Answer Cards should be used (12=4×3).

When all the players have finished writing down their answers, each player should collect 40 Points from the Bank. Then, each player should choose one playing piece to represent herself/himself on the game board. Place these playing pieces on the Friendo/Start Square. Do not attach any of the playing pieces together. That is, every player should start the game as a single. When all this is done, the game begins, and players can take turns to play.

Each of a player's turn involves following the operations directed by the flowchart in FIG. 11 from top to bottom—starting with “Roll Dice” and ending with “Next Player's Turn”.

Move 1: Player A starts the game. She/He rolls the dice. She/He rolled 5, so she/he moves her/his playing piece five spaces clockwise along the path drawn on the game board. (Note that each player's turn begins this way—by rolling the dice and moving her/his playing piece clockwise along the path drawn on the game board.) In this case, player A lands on a square marked “Q”. Player A picks a Guess Card. Since she/he has all the Answer Cards still in her/his possession, she/he asks all the other players to guess her/his answer for the top question listed on the Guess Card. Suppose player B is the only player who guessed it correctly. Then, player B wins a Flag corresponding to the color of her/his playing piece. Player B can place this Flag on any space marked “8” on the game board. Furthermore, for being able to correctly guess A's answer, player B may choose to partner-up with player A. In this case, Player B chooses to partner-up, so she/he moves her/his playing piece to the space occupied by player A and attach their two playing pieces together. As such, Player A and B each gets a Friendo Chip from the Bank for initially finding a partner. As stipulated by the rules of the game thus directed by the flowchart in FIG. 11, partners must share all their Points—since they both had 40 Points to start the game, adding their Points and dividing the total by two still leaves each of them with 40. After these operations, player A's and B's Total Score now equals 40 (Total Score=Friendo Chips×Points, that is, 40=1×40). Finally, player A disposes of the Answer Card played in this turn and replaces the Guess Card to the bottom of the Guess Card deck.

Move 2: Next, it is player B's turn. Note that player B is partnered with player A now, and as such, they'll move together. Player B rolled the dice to land the two of them on another space marked “Q”. Player B picks a Guess Card and asks all the other players to guess her/his answer for the top question listed on the Guess Card. (Note here that if player B's Answer Card for the top question listed on the Guess Card has already been played and disposed of, she/he will ask the next question down, so on and so forth; if all of her/his Answer Cards have been played and disposed of, her/his turn ends and it is the next player's turn.) In this case, suppose her/his partner, player A, guessed it correctly. Player A wins a Flag of her/his own color, which she/he places on a square marked “8”. Also, for correctly guessing her/his partner's answer, both player A and B are rewarded with an additional Friendo Chip. Player B disposes of the Answer Card played in this turn and replaces the Guess Card to the bottom of the Guess Card deck. Now, player A's and B's Total Scores are 80 (=2×40).

Move 3: Next, it is player C's turn. Player C rolls the dice and lands on a square marked “8” which has no Flag on it. Player C gets 8 Points from the Bank. Although player C has 48 Points after the additional 8 Points, because she/he is still single, therefore without a Friendo Chip, her/his Total Score is still 0 (=0×48).

Move 4: Next, it is player D's turn. Player D rolls the dice and lands on a square marked “8” that is occupied by player A's Flag. Player D pays player A 8 Points. As the receiver of the 8 Points, player A must give half of what she/he has received, 4 Points in this case, to her/his partner, Player B. After this turn, player A and B each has a Total Score of 88 (=2×44). And player D has a Total Score of 0 (=0×32).

Move 5: Next, it is player A's turn. Partnered with player B, player A rolled the dice to land their attached playing pieces on the space marked “Friendo”. As such, player A and B are entitled to each roll a die once for a match. If the two rolls of the die match, A and B will each win another Friendo Chip. Unfortunately, A rolled a 5, and B rolled a 3, therefore, no match. As such, their Total Scores are not affected and it is the next player's turn.

Move 6: Next, it is player B's turn. Still partnered with player A, player B rolled the dice to land their attached playing pieces on a space marked “Q”. Player B asks all other players to guess one of her/his answers for a question in the Story. This time, player B's partner, player A, made an incorrect guess while player D guessed it correctly. In such a case, player A and B must each lose 2 Friendo Chips, which goes back to the Bank. Unfortunately, because deducting 2 Friendo Chips from each player has left them with zero, the two of them must split-up into singles again, thus detaching their playing pieces from each other. As for player D, for correctly guessing player B's answer, she/he wins a Flag in the color of her/his playing piece. Player D places this Flag in a square marked “8” which is already occupied by one of player A's Flag. Next, player D chooses to partner with player B. Player D moves to the square occupied by player B and attach their playing pieces together. They each collect a Friendo Chip from the Bank for getting partnered. They add their Points and divide the total by two to share between themselves. Player B disposes of the Answer Card played in this turn and replaces the Guess Card to the bottom of the Guess Card deck. At the end of this turn, player A has a Total Score of 0 (=0×44), player B and player D each has a Total Score of 38 (=1×38), and player C has a Total Score of 0 (=0×48).

Move 7: Next, it is player C's turn. Player C rolls the dice and lands on a square marked “8” with one of each of player A's and player D's Flag. Player C pays 8 Points to player A and 8 Points to player D. Player D gives half of what she/he receives to her/his partner, player B. At the end of this turn, player A has a Total Score of 0 (=0×52), player B and player D each has a Total Score of 42 (=1×42), and player C has a Total Score of 0 (0×32).

Move 8: Next, it is player D's turn. Partnered with player B, player D rolled the dice to land on a square marked “8” that is occupied with one of each of player A's and player D's Flags. In this case, player D and player B each pay player A 8 Points. They can ignore player D's Flag on this square because it belongs to a member of their own partnership. At the end of this turn, player A has a Total Score of 0 (=0×68), player B and player D each has a Total Score of 34 (=1×34), and player C has a Total Score of 0 (=0×32).

The game continues in this fashion with each player taking her/his turn as laid out by the flowchart in FIG. 11 until either one of the following happens, which causes the game to be over:

-   -   (1) All the Answer Cards have been played and disposed of, or     -   (2) When only three players are left on the game board because         other players have gone bankrupt of Points. A player is bankrupt         of Points when she/he lands on a square marked “8” and has         insufficient Points to pay those other players whose Flags         occupy it. Players who have gone bankrupt of Points are out of         the game and must immediately remove their playing pieces from         the game board.

When the game is over, the partnered players who have the highest Total Scores win.

There has been described hereinabove only one preferred embodiment of the present invention which can be practiced and constructed in many different ways and configurations.

It should be understood that many changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications will become apparent to those persons skilled in this particular area of technology and to others after having been exposed to the present patent application.

Any and all such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention are therefore covered by and embraced within the present invention and the patent claims set forth hereinbelow. 

1. A board game kit of components for playing a game by a plurality of players, said kit comprising: (1) a game playing surface marked with a plurality of indicia, said indicia comprising (A) a plurality of spaces of varying kinds, (B) said spaces adapted to receive instructions for one or more of said players, and (C) said spaces defining a track for movement along said playing surface; (2) a plurality of markers adapted for positioning on said spaces responsive to stimuli, one said marker being assigned to each of said players, each of said player's marker being adapted to be attached to or detached from the marker of another player; (3) a story media setting forth a story and a series of related questions; (4) means to record players' responses to said questions (5) means to score the results of play for said players' markers, said scoring means comprising: (A) a first series of scores for each player defined by said player's marker's attachment to or detachment from another player's marker, (B) a second series of scores for each player defined by movement of said player along said playing surface, and (C) ascertaining the results of play for each said player by multiplying said player's first series of scores by said player's second series of scores; and (6) a plurality of markers adapted for occupying spaces on the game playing surface, requiring players to pay the second series of scores when they land on said spaces.
 2. The board game kit recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of spaces includes a plurality of instruction cards requiring designated acts for a player receiving a card during the course of game play.
 3. The board game kit recited in claim 1, wherein said first series of scores includes a plurality of tokens providing benefit as designated to a player receiving such tokens during the course of game play.
 4. The board game kit recited in claim 1, wherein said second series of scores includes a plurality of scripts providing benefit as designated to a player receiving such scripts during the course of game play.
 5. The board game kit recited in claim 1, wherein random selection means determines movement of said players' marker along said board spaces.
 6. A board game for playing a game by a plurality of players, comprising: (1) a game playing surface marked with a plurality of indicia, said indicia comprising (A) a plurality of spaces of varying kinds, (B) said spaces adapted to receive instructions for one or more of said players, and (C) said spaces defining a track for movement along said playing surface; (2) a plurality of markers adapted for positioning on said spaces responsive to stimuli, one said marker being assigned to each of said players, each of said player's marker being adapted to be attached to or detached from the marker of another player; (3) a story media setting forth a story and a series of related questions; (4) means to record players' responses to said questions (5) means to score the results of play for said players' markers, said scoring means comprising: (A) a first series of scores for each player defined by said player's marker's attachment to or detachment from another player's marker, (B) a second series of scores for each player defined by movement of said player along said playing surface, and (C) ascertaining the results of play for each said player by multiplying said player's first series of scores by said player's second series of scores; and (6) a plurality of markers adapted for occupying spaces on the game playing surface, requiring players to pay the second series of scores when they land on said spaces.
 7. The board game recited in claim 6, wherein said story media comprises a series of questions pertaining to human conduct.
 8. The board game recited in claim 7, wherein a player records answers to said questions separately and secretly from other players.
 9. The board game recited in claim 8, wherein said player recording said answers reveals said answers during the course of play responsive to actions by other players.
 10. The board game recited in claim 6, wherein action by a player who correctly guesses another player's answer to a question yields means for increasing a player's reward in the form of said second series of scores resulting from subsequent movement of other players landing on such playing surface.
 11. The board game recited in claim 7, wherein the unattached marker of a first player who correctly guesses a second player's answer whose marker is also unattached can be attached as a partner to said second player's marker, and each of them will gain their initial first series of score.
 12. The board game recited in claim 11, wherein each time the players of the attached markers correctly guesses each other's answer will each gain an additional first series of score.
 13. The board game recited in claim 11, wherein each time a partnered player incorrectly guesses the answer of said player's partner while a third player correctly guesses, the partnered player loses a certain number of the first series of score.
 14. The board game recited in claim 6, wherein said first series of scores ascertained by said scoring means are entirely deducted when attached players' marker are detached.
 15. A method for playing a question and answer game by at least three players, said method comprising the steps of (1) selecting a story and presenting said story to the players of the game; (2) having each player separately and secretly answer questions contained in the story according to said player's own opinions about said story; (3) offering a first player the opportunity to attempt to guess a second player's answer to a question in the story; (4) attaching a player's marker to another player's marker, as partners, when the former correctly guesses the latter's answer to a question in the story; (5) maintaining said partnership between said attached partnered players until and unless a third player correctly guesses an answer to a question while one's partner guesses incorrectly; (6) revealing the answers to said questions; (7) scoring players by multiplying, for each player, two component of scores together to arrive at a total score; and (8) tallying said total score to determine the highest score.
 16. The method recited in claim 15, wherein said players are awarded, or are penalized for, a first of the two components of scores as they move along a board track.
 17. The method recited in claim 15, wherein said players are awarded, or are penalized for, a second of the two components of scores when they are attached to or detached from other players.
 18. The method recited in claim 15, wherein the two components of scores are accumulated for each player as a factor in determining said player's total score.
 19. The method recited in claim 16, wherein said players are awarded, or are penalized for, a second of the two components of scores when they are attached to or detached from other players.
 20. The method recited in claim 19, wherein the two components of scores are accumulated for each player as a factor in determining said player's total score 